First Ladies, Church Secrets & Respectability Politics: Deesha Philyaw's The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman

In this episode, I talk with Tara Goedjen about her new gothic triller Please Enjoy Your Stay. We had some technical difficulties at the end, so it ends somewhat abruptly! Listen to hear about: How Tara Goedjen's love of gothic fiction, mysteries, and horror inspired her adult debut, Please Enjoy Your Stay. The inspiration behind the novel's atmospheric Austrian castle setting and its blend of true crime, psychological suspense, and supernatural horror. The complicated ethics of true crime entertainment, from the impact on victims' families to the power of public perception. How unreliable memories, buried trauma, and family secrets shape the stories we tell ourselves—and the truths we're willing to believe. A behind-the-scenes look at Tara's writing process, including dual timelines, crafting twists, and learning to embrace discomfort while writing.

This week, Erin Ashley, Kayla Hardy and I chat about books that have been on our TBRs for waaaay too long. Kate's Books Babel by R.F. Kuang The House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende Fingersmith by Sarah Waters Kayla's Books House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson Astarion: Baldur's Gate 3: by T. Kingfisher Erin's Books On Time: A Princely Life in Funk by Morris Day The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

This week, I chat with Mathilda Zeller about her new horror It Looks Like You in the Dark. Listen to hear all about: How Inupiat folklore, family history, and a troubling account of cultural appropriation inspired this chilling Arctic horror novel. The intersection of supernatural horror, colonialism, capitalism, and environmental destruction—and how the real monsters aren't always supernatural. The complicated relationships between mothers, daughters, and sisters, and the ways generational trauma shapes our identities. The tension between honoring Indigenous traditions, protecting ancestral land, and finding your own path forward. How Zeller's remarkable family history influenced her writing, her pen name, and her approach to storytelling.

In this episode, I chat with Sara Fashandi about her book From Tehran to Tomorrow, which chronicles her brother Mohsen's story as the first in their family to immigrate to America. Listen to hear all about: How a family storytelling contest inspired Sara Fashandi to become an author and preserve her older brother's extraordinary life experiences. The hidden hardships of immigrating to America in the 1970s, from language barriers and homesickness to financial struggles and homelessness. How Sara's brother Mohsen helped bring all five of his siblings to the United States, transforming his own difficult journey into opportunities for his family. The role of education, cultural exchange, friendship, and family in building a new life—and how the Iranian Revolution changed the family's plans to return home. Why preserving family histories matters, especially the sacrifices, resilience, and untold stories that can disappear between generations.

In this episode, Gare and I chat with Tessa Wegert about her new thrill The River Runs Black! Listen to hear about: How the Thousand Islands and North Country become characters themselves, creating the perfect mix of cozy fall atmosphere, isolation, and underlying dread. Why Tessa set The River Runs Black around Halloween and how trick-or-treating, pumpkin festivals, orchards, and other seasonal details actually play into the mystery. How she uses multiple POVs, secrets, cliffhangers, and carefully timed reveals to keep readers guessing—and why she changed one major character’s perspective while writing. The real-life inspiration behind the novel’s drug trafficking storyline, including a late-night police encounter on the St. Lawrence River and the uniquely porous U.S.–Canada border. How the novel explores the impact of drugs, boredom, isolation, and vulnerability among teenagers in a small community, plus what’s next for Tessa’s North Country series and her hopes to eventually publish a standalone thriller.